Black Sage Vineyard Merlot 2018

Cellar for up to 7 years. No need to decant before serving.

Set on rugged benchland that was long only considered fit for grazing cattle, this stunning estate is located on the Black Sage Bench close to the town of Summerland and Lake Okanagan. The winery dates back to 1992 when Harry McWatters and Bob Wareham, owners of the nearby Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, decided to buy up a forgotten vineyard and plant some French vine cuttings.

Over the past few decades Black Sage has become renowned for its fine red wines made from classic Bordeaux varietals like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Thanks to the well-draining sandy soils, arid desert-like conditions and sunny summer days the terroir here is ideal for crafting intense and powerful red wines with plenty of complexity and sophistication.

This silky smooth Merlot is made with fruit harvested at full ripeness in mid-October and fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the varietal character. The young wine is then transferred to French and American oak barrels where it ages for 15 months. The result is a big, multi-layered wine with intense notes of cassis, plum and dark cherry as well as hints of savoury herbs, leather and dark chocolate.